Automatic radio station selector



J. E. MccARTHY 2,192,235 AUTOMATIC RADIO STATION OELEOTOR Filed Aug. 19, 193s 2 sheets-sheet 1 m OFM `March 5, 1940.

lllnllh 2 HM IIH J. E. MccARTi-IY AUTOMATIC RADI STATION SELECTOR Marh 5, 1940.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 19, 1936 INVENTOR. Joh n .1,

EMCARTHY we@ 6M Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE 2,192,235 AUTOMATIC RADIO STATIONl SELECTOR John E. McCarthy, Tuckahoe, N. Y. Application August 19, 1936, Serial No. 96,749

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in means for controlling the operation of radio sets, and one of its objects is to provide means for auy tomatieally selecting different stations, at predetermined periods, so that a program of broadcasts can be carried out, without detail manual supervision after the initial selection of stations is made.

A further object of the invention is to provide a time controlled mechanism for automatically selecting. different stations in prope timed sequence, so that at the announced time for each station in the selected group such station will be tuned in, and the radio set will continue to opcrate.

A further object of the inventionis the provision of such a mechanism with means for causing a pause between stations.

A still further object of the invention Vis to provide a driving connection between the individual station selector elements and the tuner, so that continuous rotary motion ofthe station selector elements may be maintained and an oscillating motion of the tuner generated in proper synchronism with the movement of the individual station selectors.

A further object of the invention is to provide individual station selector wheels, having circuit connections and contacts so arranged that successive circuit controlling operations are accomplished in proper timed relation.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a series of individual station selector bars, each one of which is constructed to provide short time interval selections, and circuit connections between the active station interval positions oi the bars with the rotary station selector discs.

The invention also comprehends means for automatically closing the circuit through a radio set and of operating the tuning element therefor to render any particular station audible, and for automatically cutting out such station at'the end of predetermined period of time.

The invention further comprehends means for automatically controlling the period `between the program received by the radio set and the period for the starting of the program of another broadcast station, so that an interval of silence may be obtained.

With the above and other objects in vView the invention relates to certain new and useful constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, clearly described in the following specifica- (Cl. Z- 20) tion, and fully illustrated in the drawings, in which:

.Fig l is a diagrammatic View showing the time controlled circuit and the operating circuit closures and means therefor.

Fig. 2 is a detail side View of an operating connection between the main shaft and the radio set tuner. n

, Fig. 3 is a detail side view of a modified operating connection.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic View showing the circuit between the timing bars and the clock.

Fig. 5 is a detail side view, enlarged, showing a graduated timing bar. l

Fig. 6 is a detail end view of one of the slides 15 which controls the different connections of the timing bars.

Fig. 7 is a detail cross section of a contact bar. Referring to the accompanying drawings a radio set I is arranged, which may be of any con- 20 struction, and of any number of tubes. This set is merely indicated and not shown in the drawings, and includes a tuning element, or tuning condenser 8, which has an operating shaft 9. On this shaft the disc I0 is mounted, and this disc 25 is equipped with a lateral pin II, which is en gaged by the end of the link I2. This link engages at its opposite end the pin I3 of the disc I4, which is mounted on the main shaft I5 of the controlling device. The disc I0 is larger than the 80 disc I4, so that disc I!) will never make a comfplete revolution.

The main shaft I5 works in bearings I6 and I'I, and carries seven circuit closure discs or drums, indicated at I8, I9, 20, 2l, 22, 23 and 24. 85 The disc or druml is provided with a hub IBa, which is secured for circumferential adjustment on the shaft I5 .by means of the set screw I8b. Each of the other discs or drums is provided with a similar hub 25a, which is secured for circum- 40 ferential adjustment on the shaft I5 by means of the set screw 25h.

The disc or drum I8 is provided with a metal ring or band Ic, which is formed with an edge notch I8cZ. This band is mounted on a circular 45 body of insulation I8e. The metal band or ring I8c is engaged by a contact element I8f, which maintains unbroken metallic engagement with the metal ring or band. Another contact element or spring I8g also engages the band or ring 50 I8e but is so located that it will ride over the edge notch I8d, and thus break the circuit through the drum or band I8c. y

The disc or drum I9 is provided with a circular body I9a of insulation material, and is equipped 55 with an annular metal band or member I 9a, which is formed with a lateral edge notch |912. This member I9a is also formed with a lateral contact linger or tooth |9c, which is located in the same circumferential position as the lateral edge notch |9b. This drum is further provided with a contact insert |6e, disposed in the same circumferential position as the notch I 9b and the tooth |90, and insulated from the tooth |90. The metal band or member I9a is engaged by the spring contact fingers I9f and |99'. The contact linger I 9j is adapted to ride over the edge notch I9b, and the finger |99 maintains constant metallic engagement with the band or member I9a. This drum I9 is further engaged by the two spring finger contacts |81l and |97, and these contacts are located so that they will engage the contact insert or bridge |98 at the same time,

and the spring iinger I9h is located between the contact fingers I9g and |91' and is adapted to contact with the lateral conductor tooth I9c.

Drums 20--24 and their associated brushes are similar in construction to drum I9, with the eX- ception that the elements corresponding to |917, I9c and I 9e of one drum are all circumferentially offset with respect to all the similar elements in the other drums.

The shaft I5 is equipped on one end with a Worm gear 25, which is engaged by the worm shaft 26. This shaft is provided with a large pulley 21, which is driven by means of the belt 28 from the small pulley 29 of the electrical motor 36. The shaft 26 works in the bearing 26a.

One terminal of the motor is connected by the wire 3| with contact linger Isf of the drum I8; with the contact finger I9g of the drum I9; with the contact finger 20g of the drum 26; with the contact finger 2| g of the drum 2|; with the contact finger 22g of the drum 22; with the contact linger 23g of the drum 23; and with the contact finger 24g of the drum 24. The other terminal of the motor is connected by the wire 32 with the supply line wire 33. The other line wire 34 is connected to the wii'e 35 and to the switch 36. A feed wire 31 connects this switch 36 with the electrical motor which operates the clock 38, and the return wii'e 39 of this clock is connected with the wire 40, which is directly connected with the '7 watt indicating lamp 4I. The wire 42 is connected with the wire 40 and supplies current to the radio set, the return wire 43 of which is connected with the second switch 44.

The switch 36 is adapted to make contact with the contact 45 of the wire 46, and the switch 44 is adapted to make contact with the contact 41 of this wire 46. The wire 46 is connected to the contact member 48 of the thermostatic switch 49. One end of the member or bar 48 is provided with a contact 48a and the other end is provided with a contact 48h. These end contacts are engageable by the contacts 59a and 56h of the companion contact bar 50, on which is wound the electrical heating or resistance wire or coil 5I. A manually operated button or element 52 is adapted to move the contact 59a into engagement with the contact 4317. One end of the resistance wire 5| is connected tothe wire 53 of the indicating lamp 4|, and the other end is connected to the wire 54, which is connected with the fifteenth minute contact elements 55, 56, 51 and 58 of the clock 38. 'I'hese contact elements are spaced 90 degrees from each other and are successively engaged by the minute hand 60 of this clock. A series of 48 fifteen minute contacts 6| are arranged in a circular row to be engaged successively by the hour hand 62 of this clock.

A wire 63 is connected with the wire 53, which has connection with the indicating lamp 4| and with the resistance wire 5I, and this wire 63 is provided with a contact 64 which is engaged by the manually operated switch button 65, to cause the contact 64 to engage the contact 66. The contact 66 is wired directly to the contact bar and is also connected with the resistance wire 5|.

Wire 61 connects wires 53 and 63 with the off station bar 68.

I provide one station setting bar for each drum and an additional setting bar, for controlling the time period for stopping tl'i'e audible operation of the radio set, the latter being the bar 68. The bar 69 is connected by the wire 1U with the contact finger 24j of the drum 24; the bar 1I is connected by the wire 12 with the contact linger 231 of the drum 23; the time bar 13 is connected by the wire 14 with the contact iinger 22j of the drum 22; the bar 15 is connected with the spring contact nger 2| f of the drum 2|, by the wire 16; the bar 11 is connected by the wire 18 with the spring contact finger 2|lf of the drum 2U; the bar 19 is connected by the wire 68 with the spring nger I 9j of the drum I9; and the bar 82 is connected by the Wire 83 with the spring Contact finger I8y of the drum I9.

Each of the bars is metallic or provided with a metallic conductive strip, which is engaged by the slide 84. One or more slides may be arranged on each bar. The bars are arranged in parallel relation to each other, and disposed horizontally.

The intermediate iingers |971, 20h, 2Ih, 22h, 23h, and 24h of the drums I9, 20, 2|, 22, 23 and 24 are connected by the Wire 85 to the switch 36, in series with the indicating lamps I9', 20', 2|', 22', 23 and 24', which are about 7 watt capacity. The spring fingers |92', 207', 2I1', 227', 237, and 247', of the drums I9, 20, 2|, 22, 23, and 24 are connected by the wire 86 to the switch 44.

The forty-eight contact elements which are engaged by the hour hand are wired to fortyeight conductor strips 81, which are arranged in parallel relations, spaced apart from each other as shown in Fig. 3, at right angles to the time bars, so that each of these conductor strips 81 can be engaged by any of the slides on any of the time bars, and circuit thus established between the time bar of the engaging slide and the engaged clock conductor strip 81.

A brake drum 88 is provided on the main shaft I5, which is engaged by the brake or friction band 89, so that there will be no momentum generated by the drums on this shaft.

To start the automatic operation of the time controlled radio set, the line switch 36 is closed, and at the same time the On button 52 is held depressed. 'I'his will cause the current to iiow from line wire 34, through 35, 36, 45, 46, contact 48h, contact 58a, strip 50, heating coil 5I, wire 53, lamp 4I to line wire 33. The On button 52 is then released, but the heating coil 5I remains energized, due to the fact that the thermostatic switch contacts remain fully engaged. This condition causes the current to flow to the Wire 54, and to the clock contacts 55, 56, 51 and 58 of the minute hand 66. These four fifteen minute contacts are connected electrically to each other, so that when the minute hand engages one of these contacts current will Iiow through the minute hand, to the hour hand 62, which is in conductive contact therewith, and to the contactl engaged by the hour hand, and-thence to the wire 87 connected therewith, and thence to the cross slide wire or strip connected with this wire. Current will then flow to the slide of the bar engaged with this cross wire or strip to the bar of this slide, which is itself conductive, and thence to the distribution wire which leads from this bar to the rotary drum contact connected therewith.

In the event that the station bar 19 is active, the current will flow from this station bar to the wire 89, to the contact finger lf, to the conductor band ma, to the contact finger |9g, and to the wire 3| to the motor 3d, from motor through 32 to the line wire 33 which completes the motor circuit. When the motor has rotated the drum shaft I5 to bring the edge notch |91) into engagement with the contact finger |8f, the motor circuit will be opened, thus causing the motor to stop, due to the frictional drag of the tension drum 88 upon the motor. At the time the edge notch lh engages the finger |9i the lateral tooth |90 of the drum i9 will be engaged by the intermediate iinger lh, and current will flow from line wire 34, through lead wires 35 and 85, indicating lamp |9 of the drum i9, into nger |9h, tooth |90, band |9a,f1nger leg, wire 3|, through motor 30, to wire 32, to line wire 33 which completes the circuit. Due to the fact that the indicating lamp is in series circuit with the motor 33, the motor, though energized, will not have sufficient current to rotate, and due to the fact that the power circuit through the motor was broken when the edge notch lsb engaged the spring contact finger |9f, the shaft l5 will remain idle with the motor Bil. With the drum in this position, circuit is established between the spring contact fingers |512 and |99', which then connects the load side of the switch 44 by way offwire 85, finger |97', bridge contact |96, finger |91, wire 86a, bar EEB, contacts 50h and 43u, bar 68, wire 4S, switch 3S, wires 35 and 34, and energizes the receiver at the station controlled by the drum IS. At the end of the time period predetermined upon for the broadcasting of the program of the station controlled by the drum I9, the thermostatic contacts are caused to separate by the action of the clock, which causes a metallic shunt across the heating coil 5| which then loses its ability to keep strip 5|) expanded and thereby causes contacts 48a and 5th to open. The shunt circuit across the heating coil 5| is through wire 54, clock contacts 55, 56, 5'! or 58, hand 5u, hand 62, contact 6|, through slide 81|, to bar 68, off wires 51, 53 to other end of heating coil 5 i. The set will then remain ofi until reset. Button (i5 with its contacts M and 66, also creates a shunt across heating coil 5| and is used for test purposes or in making a change to the automatic operation from the manual operation. lhe turning oif or on of the radio set may be had by simply opening the line switch 36.

When a station drum has been automatically cut out by the above operation, the clock will continue to operate, and. at the next starting time period, as selected by the arrangementof the slide or slides on the station bars and pressing of but.-

ton 52, the clock will again establish circuit through the motor, and the shaft i5 will be turned so that the drum of the station to be next received will make the necessary circuit connections to close the radio tube circuit and to stop the motor, as above indicated. i

When no program is desired for a particular station or timeperiod, the automatic control may in series be continued, through'the aid of the pause drum I8 and its bar 82. Drum I8 is devoid of equipment for lighting an indicating light and ngers for energizing the set tubes. Drum I8 is set upon the shaft I5 in such a way tuning condenser to a position ofi the automatic setting. The time period at which the pause drum operates is determined by the bar and the pause bar slide thereon, just as in the case of the other drums and their time bars.

The drums are adjusted so that the machine will operate properly with reference to the local or other stations connected in. Since any radio station is brought in by turning the tuning knob of the set, so that the tuner is given an adjust-4 ment corresponding to the wavelength of the station, it follows that if the controlling drum of any station is adjusted on the shaft |5 so that a similar turning effort is obtained from the motor,-before it automatically stops, that this sta-t n sets, which does not require that a person make different manual operations, each time the set is to be adjusted to receive a different program or a different station. By operating the knob on the end of the shaft 26 the drum shaft l5 may be manually turned, so that the automatic control1 is cut out; or by pressing the Gif button 65.

I claim as new and patentable:

1. The combination with a radio set having en adjustable tuner to change the wave length. of the radio set to receive broadcasts of different radio stations, of a shaft having a differential operating coupling with the tuner, a plurality of drums on the shaft, contact fingers engaging each drum, a plurality of station bars, adjustable electrical contacts on the station bars, a clock controlled circuit closer, a motor for turning the shaft, said clock control circuit being arranged to connect each of the said bars to lthe line in sequence, whereby with any given setting of the electrical contacts, circuit will be made through the motor as soon as the time bar connected to said drum is energized and continue until the drum is rotated to a point of circuit breaking and means on said drum at the point of circuit breaking for automatically 1re-routing the motor circuit afte.A

tuning in, through the motor in series with an indicating lamp, thus providing an indication and cutting down the motor current below the operating margin. i

2. The combination with a radio receiving set having an adjustable tuner, of an operating shaft, a driving connection between the shaft and the tuner, whereby the tuner will be turned less than a complete revolution, a motor for turning the shaft, a time mechanism having a series of spaced contacts corresponding to different time intervals and a moving element to successively engage said contacts, a series of time selectors, a circuit closer on the shaft having circuit connections with each time selector, electrical conductors having circuit connections with the spaced contacts of the time mechanism, adjustable contacts on the time selectors for engaging any one of the electrical conductors, said motor being connected with said spaced contacts', said moving that it Will turn the L elements, saidv time selectors, saidcircuit closers and said-adjustable contacts, whereby with any selection, said motor will be operated when the time selector is energized, to automatically reroute the motor circuit after tuning in, through the motor in series with an indicating lamp, thus providing an indication and cutting down the motor current below the operating margin, and means for energizing the radio set effective upon the completion of the reduced operating circuit.

8. The combination with a radio receiving set having an adjustable tuner, a shaft having driving connection with the tuner, a series of drums on the shaft, each drum having a conductor band formed with an edge notch in one side and a contact tooth onithe opposite side in line with the edge notch and also having a Contact bridge insulated from the band and tooth, Contact fingers for each drum including two contacts adapted to simultaneously engage the conductor band so that one or said iingers will engage the edge notch when the drum is rotated, contact ngers adapted to simultaneously engage the contact bridge of the drum, a contact iinger arranged to engage the contact tooth, time selecting mechanism having circuit connections with the contact fingers, a motor having circuit connections with the rst named Contact lingers and circuit connections between the radio set and the last named contact fingers. l

4. The combination with a radio receiving set having an adjustable tuner, a shaft having driving connection with the tuner, a series of drums on the shaft, each drum having a plurality of circuit closing means, a plurality of pairs of contact iingers engaging each drum to simultaneously engage said circuit closing means, a motor for turning said shaft, circuit connections between vthe motor and certain of the contact fingers, circuit connections between the radio set and certain other contact lingers, and means included in the circuit of the motor -lor holding said circuit closed by thermostatic action and for reducing the flow of current to the motor below the current quantity required for turning the motor.

5. The combination for a radio set having a movable tuner with a shaft coupled to the tuner, a motor for driving said shaft, a plurality of adjustable drums upon said shaft having contacts for controlling the motor circuit, each of said drums being adjustable independent of all others, a plurality of station bars which contact with one of said drums, a plurality of time bars each adapted to be selectively coupled with one of said station bars, a clock adapted to make momentary contact with said time bars in time sequence at the beginning only of said time interval and nie-ans for maintaining said circuit closed during the remainder of said time interval, said means including an indicating lamp in series with the motor and adapted to be automatically cut into the .motor circuit, thus providing 'an indication and cutting down of the motor current below the o erating margin.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5, in which each drum is provided with a contact for connecting the radio set to the power line only at the time when the shaft is stopped by the contacts on said drum.

y ing effective at 7. A control device vfor radios vhaving a tuning element comprising a shaft in driving connection to said tuning element, a motor for driving said shaft, a plurality of drums on said shaft each having a Contact piece arranged to contact with a linger, to form a circuit controlling pair, means for selectively placing any pair in series with the drive motor comprising a plurality of station elements and a plurality of time elements adapted to be selectively coupled into the motor circuit, a clock having a contact connected to said time elements and arranged to place said time elements in the motor circuit in sequence, a pair of contacts arranged in the motor circuit adapted to make circuit momentarily at the beginning of each time interval to start said motor by said momentary current, and means for thereafter holding the motor circuit closed, releasable when the clock contact leaves said time element.

8. The combination with a radio set having a movable tuner and a shaft coupled to the tuner, of a motor for driving the shaft, a plurality of station selectors adjustably mounted upon the shaft and having contacts for controlling the motor circuit, a corresponding number of station bars severally electrically connected to said contacts, a plurality of time bars each adapted to be selectively coupled with one of said station bars, a clock adapted to make momentary contact with said time bars in time sequence at the beginning only of the time interval, an indicating lamp, an initiating circuit for effecting connection with a given pre-selected station, a holding circuit .for retaining the selected station for a given time interval, part of the initiating circuit being common to the holding circuit, the individual branch of the initiating circuit including said clock, time bars, selector bars and certain of the selector contacts of a given selector, the individual branch of the holding circuit including only the indicating lamp and certain other contacts of said selector in series, means for substituting the individual branch of the holding circuit for the individual branch of the initiating circuit, and means for at the expiration of the time interval.

9. A device in accordance with claim 8 in which motor control circuits are cut in by the action of a heating coil expanding a contact member controlled thereby, circuit.

l0. A device in accordance with claim 8 in which motor control circuits are cut off by a shunt being placed across the heating element of a thermostatic switch for controlling the initiating circuit.

l1. A device in accordance with claim 8 in which the circuit breaking action of the shaft carrying the selectors is controlled by an adjustable breaking means.

12. A device in accordance with claim 8 in which the indicating lamp functions to indicate proper tuning of a station irrespective of whether the selection thereof was manual or automatic.

13. A claim in accordance with claim 8 in which a pause period is created within the group of se-r lected stations by means of a mechanism becomthe expiration oi fixed time intervals which may be made successive.

JOHN E. MCCARTHY.

interrupting the holding circuit thus completing the initiating f5 

